Help to define lease-break clause

[dreamstalker22]

I've been living in HK for two years now and am considering moving for my final year here.

I understand that most leases have break-clauses. My current lease states that I can break it after the 12-month expiration with two months' notice (irrelevant for this lease as I will be leaving at the 2 year expiration).

My question for my future lease signing: does this mean I can break the lease AT the 12 month point if I give notice at month 10? Or does it mean that I can move out at month 14 with 2 months' notice?

I want to make sure about this because by the time I move, I will only have 14 months remaining on my employment contract and I'm planning to return home - so I will need to break it. I don't want to be trapped in a lease I can't get out of! (I'm also signing a direct-owner lease, so there's no agent to clarify this for me.)

Thanks!

[KnowItAll]

Normal contracts these days are 12 + 2 (notice) from both ends with a max of 24 months.

READ the contract before you sign. Should you want modifications, don't be afraid to ask and write them in on the contract (incase you're looking at a default template) and get the owner to agree.

[Boris]

Write the contract to your needs. Most people assume that what is written in the original is a " must do ". In reality it isn't so and you may amend to your EXACT requirements. Remember to get both parties to sign the amendments.

Its true there are local norms but every buyer should never lose sight of the fact they are customer and cash is king.

[mjk]

As the previous posters suggestes, it is up to your discussion with the landlord. My previous lease was 12+2, now I have a 10+2.